At the beginning of March, I sat down and mapped out a handful of simple wellness goals I wanted to focus on for the month. Nothing dramatic, nothing extreme — just a few habits I thought would help me feel more grounded, energized, and consistent. If you missed that post, you can read it here: My March Fitness and Wellness Goals for a Balanced Routine.
Now that the month is officially behind us, I wanted to come back and do something I don’t always do — actually reflect on how it went. The good, the not-so-good, and what I’m taking with me into April.
The goal I’m most proud of: 10,000 steps outside every day
This one ended up being my favorite goal of the month, and honestly the one that surprised me the most. I went into March thinking it would be the hardest to keep up with — life gets busy, the weather isn’t always cooperative, and some days it’s just hard to carve out that time.
But living near the coast makes this goal feel less like a chore and more like a gift. My morning dog walks, beach walks in the afternoon, and just general time spent outside all added up more quickly than I expected. And the impact on my mood and energy was real. On the days I hit my steps, I felt noticeably calmer and more focused. On the days I didn’t, I could tell.
This one is staying on the list for April. No question.
Waking up by 7:30: mostly a win
I set a goal to wake up consistently by 7:30 every morning, and I’d say I hit this one about 95% of the time — which I’m genuinely happy with. The nights I was in bed by 9:30 made this almost effortless. The nights I stayed up later made it a little harder, but I never really let myself fall off completely.
My Hatch Restore continued to be a game changer here. Having a gentle, gradual wake-up instead of a jarring alarm makes such a difference in how I feel stepping into the morning. If you’re someone who struggles to wake up feeling rested, I genuinely can’t recommend it enough.
Consistent mornings really do set the tone for everything else. When I woke up on time, my whole day ran smoother.
Cutting added sugar: harder than I expected, but worth it
I’ll be honest — this one was the toughest goal of the month. Not because I eat a ton of added sugar to begin with, but because it made me so much more aware of where it sneaks in. Sauces, condiments, things you’d never think twice about.
I wasn’t perfect. There were a few moments where I let it slide, especially toward the end of the month as we had family and friends visiting. But overall I’d say I was more intentional than I’ve ever been, and I did notice a real difference in my energy levels — especially in the afternoons. That 3pm slump that used to hit pretty hard? Much more manageable!
The focus on high-protein meals and simple, whole foods made a big difference. When I was eating well, I didn’t really crave the sugar anyway.
My workout routine: spin + strength felt really good
Going into March my plan was spin classes two to three times a week alongside two to three strength sessions. And I actually stuck to it pretty consistently, which felt really good.
The combination of cycling and strength training kept things from feeling repetitive, and the daily walking meant I was moving my body in some way every single day. That variety made it feel sustainable rather than like something I was grinding through.
There’s something about having a simple, repeatable structure that just works for me. I don’t need it to be complicated — I need it to be doable. And this month proved that it is.
Showing up online consistently: a work in progress
I’ll be real with you — this was the goal I struggled with most. Committing to Instagram stories every single day for both my personal account and Seventh Shore is more mentally demanding than it sounds. Some days the content came naturally. Other days I had to push myself to show up even when I didn’t feel like I had anything interesting to share.
What I learned is that “showing up” doesn’t have to mean polished. Some of my most natural, casual story content resonated more than the stuff I thought harder about. So going into April, I want to keep the commitment but loosen the pressure a little. Progress over perfection.
What I’m carrying into April
March reminded me of something I keep relearning: simple works. The goals that stuck were the ones that felt realistic and tied to how I actually want to feel — not some version of perfect.
Going into April I’m keeping the daily steps, the consistent wake-up time, and the focus on whole foods. I’m also going to keep leaning into the spin and strength routine because it genuinely makes me feel strong in a way I love.
And I’ll be setting a few new goals too — I’ll share those in a post soon!
If you set March goals of your own, how did it go? I’d love to hear in the comments. There’s something about accountability that makes the whole process feel a little more fun.
Much love from the coast, Haley
Want to follow along with my fitness and wellness routines? Check out the Fitness category for more, and come find me on Instagram @_haleyhthomas where I share the day-to-day.